Tag Archive for '“Felicia Joy Browder”'

The Economic Crisis and the Definition of Fear

Published
by
Felicia Joy
on December 16, 2008
in Ms. CEO Blog
. 0 Comments

I talked to Tim Grizzle today on The Ms. CEO Show about what entrepreneurs and small businesses should be doing to survive, and perhaps thrive, during this economic downturn.

Mr. Grizzle is a CFP, CPA and MBA and has been a financial advisor and business owner for two decades serving clients who have net worths of anywhere from $2 million to $20 million.  He’s also an author—he’ll be releasing a book in March 2009 that will tell the stories of those who have come out on top and on bottom during economic crises.  Mr. Grizzle has lived and prospered through four of these busted bubbles.

But of everything Mr. Grizzle shared today, his definition of fear stuck out to me the most.

Fear, anxiety, downtroddeness and depression is gripping, or beginning to grip, more than a few people.  As an entrepreneur, that’s an emotional state that just won’t work.

I’ve heard fear defined as an acronym: False Evidence Appearing Real.  And I’ve heard fear defined as the thing that makes you wet your pants!  I even know the formal definition:  A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, or loss—whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

Real or imagined in the formal definition is food for thought.

But get a load of Mr. Grizzle’s definition: Fear is nothing more than respect for the project (or action) you’re about to undertake. Wow!  That’s one way I’ve never heard fear defined and it’s quite apropros for these times.

Think about it: Respect causes you to pay attention.  Act with careful urgency.  Anticipate the next need or demand.  Basically, those are all the actions we should be taking in business today.  I always proudly claim to be courageous; feeling fear and moving forward anyway.  I’m usually quick to kick fear in the face.  But with this new definition and a new found appreciation and respect for fear, well, I’ll still be moving forward courageously—but I might take just a little more time to stare fear in the face!

Be Encouraged,
Felicia Joy
A Business Woman’s Best Friend

P.S. If you missed the show, check it out on the player to your right (Bump the Slump!) and check out the blog tomorrow.  We’ll be featuring our first “Ms.CEO of the Week”.  None other than the fabulous Kaira Akita—actor extraordinaire and CEO of A Clothes Encounter, the new way to shop!

Women Entrepreneurs - 10.1 Million Strong

Published
by
Felicia Joy
on December 15, 2008
in Ms. CEO Blog
. 0 Comments

Women entrepreneurs are a force to be reckoned with.  At 10.1 million strong we employ more than 13 million Americans and our businesses generate $1.9 trillion dollars in annual sales.

That’s heavy duty economic impact but you wouldn’t know it from the lamenting, doom and gloom we are hearing from every news source during these tough times.  I challenge you—as I challenge myself—to look for the opportunity in all of this.

Everything that is happening is simply the Universe’s way of managing natural resources and reflecting back to humankind what we have sewn for the last few years.  There’s nothing like a crisis to help you get focused and look for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Women entrepreneurs are a beacon of light in good times and bad.  When a woman is empowered a family is empowered.  Communities are empowered.  Nations are empowered and the world is empowered.  We, women entrepreneurs, are 10.1 million brilliant beams of light shining in the direction of economic rejuvenation.

If you have a business, Ms. CEO wants to help your light shine brighter.  If you’ve always dreamed of launching a business and haven’t been sure how, or have been just plain fearful, we understand and we’d like to help you flip the switch.

Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, December 16th, on The Ms. CEO Radio Show we will do just that.  The show starts live right here at 2pm ET.  And every week thereafter, the show will air live on Tuesdays, 2-3pm ET, and I’ll be discussing topics and interviewing experts that will help you move your business and life forward.

This is my passion and I’d love to hear from you anytime about yours.  As we used to sing in church when I was growing up, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”

Drop me a line and mark your calendar to tune into the show every Tuesday, 2-3pm ET.  It’s going to be a blast—and I can’t wait!

xoxo,
Felicia Joy

P.S. Have you heard about the Make Mine a Million Business Race?  Challenge yourself now to be an active participant in America’s economic recovery.  If not you, who?  If not now, when?  Let’s go!  Enter the race now and tune into The Ms. CEO Show every Tuesday for special features and more details.